Huskies -- of St. Cloud -- should sweep in only WCHA series

The Gophers and UMD play exhibition games this weekend against the under-18 U.S. team -- the U18 team is at Mariucci on Friday and at the DECC on Saturday -- but there is one WCHA series this weekend and four teams play nonconference series.

So taking out the crystal ball, here is how those series shape up:

Michigan Tech at St. Cloud State

These are the two teams at the bottom of the standings, both still in single digits in points.

The Huskies of Houghton (1-10-1) have scored the fewest goals in conference play (29, same as SCSU) and given up the most goals (55). In their last action, they lost 4-2 to Michigan and 5-3 to Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 29-30.

Two of the H of H's hottest players are sophomore Aaron Pietila with his first three goals of the season in the past four games and freshman Milo Gordic (10-5-15). Gordic has four power-play goals. Junior goalie Josh Robinson had 86 saves against the Wolverines and Spartans.

Injuries have decimated MTech so much -- the H of H have the sixth toughest schedule -- that they had to add two players late, Alan L'Esperance and Tyler Grubb.

Cam Reid had the overtime goal against Cornell, freshman forward and tournament MVP Nic Dowd had the game-winner against Miami. Dowd had that one goal and three assists.

The GC Huskies had fun in their third trip to Florida, the also went in 2004 and '08, maybe too much. Senior defenseman Chris Hepp turned pro this week and senior forward Tony Mosey was cut for violating team rules. There are also reports a third player may face a suspension.

Junior forward Drew leBlanc had one goal and three assists and leads the team in scoring (7-15-22). The GC Huskies are 9-1 vs. the Huskies of Houghton in their last 10 meetings. So despite the weird going ons in St. Cloud ... SCSU sweeps

Bemidji State at Alabama-Huntsville

The Chargers are struggling in their first season as an independent with a 2-18-2 mark. BSU also was in its first season in the WCHA until recently. The Beavers have won five of their last seven games and are coming off two wins in the Mariucci Classic at Mauricci Arena.

The Beavers are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games with the Chargers. Both were members of College Hockey America which disbanded after last season. ... BSU sweeps

Robert Morris at North Dakota

Might be bad time for anyone to play Fighting Sioux -- Gophers go to the Ralph next weekend. UND is on an 8-1-1 roll with five wins in a row. The line of Brad Malone (5-5-10), Matt Frattin (5-4-9) and Evan Trupp (3-3-6) is just dominating the last five games with 25 points and a plus-21 ranking. Malone has three game-winners in the win streak; Frattin has an NCAA-high 18 goals.

Goalie Aaron Dell leads nation with 13 wins and the WCHA with a 1.94 goals-against average in conference games. Sioux are 14-5-2 overall, 11-3-0 in the WCHA for a league-leading 22 points.

So many the Robert Morris Colonials should stay in Moon Township, Pa., near Pittsburgh? Think again.

"To got to a beautiful building like the Ralph Engelstad Arena and play an opponent like North Dakota is appealing."

Robert Morris is 12-5-2 overall, 7-5-2 and second in the Atlantic Hockey Association. NoDak is the first ranked team the Colonials will face this season.

But their overall record against top 10 teams in 5-4-1 in six seasons of Division I hockey. Last season Robert Morris upset then-No. 1 Miami twice. The Colonials in other years beat No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 2 Boston U.

So this could be close, but ... Sioux sweep

Canisius at Wisconsin

Podge Turnbull has five goals in the past four games.

The Golden Griffins have never played Wisconsin before; they are 6-8-4 overall and another AHA team. ... Badgers sweep

American International at Minnesota State

The Mavericks are another hot WCHA -- do you spot a trend? -- winning six of the last eight games. Last weekend they won the Shillelagh tournament in suburban Chicago, beating Notre Dame 4-3 and Brown 7-3. MSU has killed off 28 of 31 penalties in the last seven games.

Junior Mike Dorr was the tournament MVP with three goals and two assists. Goalie Phil Cook stopped 58 shots in two wins. Four Mavs made the all-tournament team.